Carton convertible to display container



March 18, 1958 E, B. GARMAN CARTON CONVERTIBLE TO DISPLAY CONTAINERFiled May 2, 1955 IN V EN TOR. .'bwmeo 5 ae/va/i/ z Mi? A77'0EAKFYJ .andthe interior top flaps;

United States CARTON CONVERTIBLE TO DISPLAY CONTAINER Edward B. German,Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Owens- Illinois Glass Company, a corporationof Ohio Application May 2, 1955, Serial No. 505,533

1 Claim. (Cl. 206-44) This invention relates to combination shipping anddisplay containers, and more particularly to a combination shipping anddisplay carton formed from a conventional corrugated paperboard blank.The subject carton which is formed from a minimum of material servesboth as a shipping container for a plurality of packages and as adisplay stand for the said packages when the carton is properly openedand erected. The present invention is readily adaptable to rectangularcartons of widely varying sizes and relative dimensions.

Many forms of combination shipping and display containers have been usedpreviously to fulfill the double purpose of shipping and displaying thecontained merchandise to facilitate and increase sales. Most of thesecontainers have consisted of paperboard cartons formed from eitherespecially designed blanks or containing additional material toconstitute the display arrangement. The increased cost of manufacturingthe more complex blanks and/or providing additional material within thecarton for display purposes has limited their adoption in thecompetitive shipping container field. Likewise, the difficultyexperienced by retailers in the erection of these more complicateddisplay arrangements has further restrained their adoption.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a combinedshipping and display carton which is formed from a conventional singlesheet paperboard blank with a minimum of material and scoring to containa plurality of merchandising packages during shipment and/or storage andto display a major portion of the same exposed within the opened cartonon tiered shelves by opening and folding the carton in the prescribedmanner.

Further objects of this invention are to provide a simple andinexpensive display container from a conventinal shippin carton ofvaried size and dimensions constructed of corrugated paperboard whichhas a single score line therein to permit erection of the displayarrangement.

The specific nature of this invention as well as other objects andadvantages thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following detailed description taken in conjunction with the annexedsheet of drawings on which, by way of preferred example only, areillustrated two embodiments of this invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the carton sealed for shipment withoutthe normally contained merchandise, the interior top and bottom flapsbeing shown in broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the portions of the cartonwhich are severed on opening;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the carton in display positionexposing the edges of the stepped shelves Fig. 4 is a vertical sectionalview taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

2,827,162 Patented Mar. 18, 1958 ICC Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4showing a modification of the display arrangement; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing another display modification.

The illustrated embodiment of this invention pertains to a carton or boxconstructed of single ply corrugated paperboard. A single sheet of thepaperboard is severed into a one piece blank to constitute the desiredcarton size and shape when erected into shipping form. The carton has arectangular shape when the blank ends are joined with the front, rear,top, bottom and side walls folded together at right angles to theiradjacent members to complete the carton assembly. The carton top andbottom walls are formed from overlapping flaps which are cut in theformation of the blank as extensions of the front, rear and side walls.The carton is typical of the majority of shipping containers usedcommercially, the only special preparation of the carton blank being ascored transverse line 20 extending across the front 11 which does notweaken the carton structure.

The carton top and bottom composed of extension flaps attached to theerected vertical walls are shown in Fig. 1 in the sealed position forshipment or storage excluding the normally contained merchandise. Thetop flaps 12 and 14 are hinged extensions of the respective front 11 andback 26 and are located externally with the junction of their edges inthe medial portion of the carton top parallel tothe front 11. The topflaps 13 and 15 which are attached to the sides 10 lie immediately belowand contiguous with the external top flaps 12 and 14. The overlappingtop flaps 12, 13, 14 and 15 are bonded together at their contactingsurfaces either adhesively or by stapling to unitedly form the integraltop panel. Any ordinary method of joining the top flaps may be employedconsistent with shipping specifications for containers. The preferableform of the top assembly has the junction of the top flaps 12 and 14located externally parallel to the front 11 to facilitate the medialfolding of the top. The bottom flaps 27, 28, 29 and 30 are joined in thesame manner as the top to seal the carton bottom.

In Fig. 1, the sides 10 and the front 11 are shown marked in apredetermined manner to indicate the procedure to be followed in openingthe carton. Printed instructions (not shown) on the carton will indicatethat triangular sections 35 are severed from the two sides 10 by cuttingalong the lines 16, 17 and 18 and the front 11 is divided in its lowerportion by cutting along the transverse line 19. The cutting lines 16,17, 18 and 19 for properly opening the carton may be conveniently shownby printed dot and dash lines along with the display erectioninstructions.

The triangular sections 35 which .are removed from the sides 10 arelocated in the top forward portions of the sides. The lines 16 whichconstitute the hypotenuse of the triangular cutting extend from theupper rear corner of the sides 10 to the lower portion of the front 11to meet the transverse severance line 19. The cutting lines 17 and 18extend across the top and front corners respectively of the sides 10. Itis most convenient to remove the triangular sections 35 from the sides10 before cutting the front 11 along the transverse line 19. Thus, thelower portions of the sides 10 reman in vertical position after cuttingwith their upper edges forwardly sloping to the lower front serving toform and strengthen the display stand.

After the carton is opened by making the above designated cuts thehingedly attached top and major front portions 11 and 25 are swung openabout the line 22 at the rear upper corner to permit removal of thecontained goods. All of the goods are removed to form the display standwhen the packages are relatively large sized,

but in thecase of smaller packages approximately onefourth of thecontained goods can be stored in the lower rear portion of the carton-inits display form and re- .moved as' desired by opening the displayarrangement.

After the required amount of goods are removed the top is flexedalongthe line 23-at the iunctionof the top flaps 12 and 14. This flexing ofthe top which is partially or completely double ply due to overlappingof the flaps 12,

' 13, 14 and 15 then' allows the external surfaces-of the top flaps12and 14 to be folded toward each othermore easily intoa right angledstep.

The upper front portion 11 is divided from the attached lower frontportion '25 'by the score line placed therein in the formation of thecarton blank. The externalsurface'of the'lower'front portion is foldedupward at right angles-to the upper front portion 11 about the scoreline 20 to construct a step composed of'riser and tread. Similarly, theexternal surfaces of the. top flaps-12 and 14 -are folded'together-alongthe line 23 to form planes at right-angles. The two continuous shelveshaving included right angles formed along the lines "20 and 23 aremaintainedin' stepped position and'swung about the upper rear line 22 asa lineal fulcrum into the carton interior. In effect this amounts tolowering theexternal upper front corner into the approximate transversecenter line of the carton interior.

"Thus, the riser and tread of theopper shelf are formed by the externalsurfaces ofthe carton-top flaps '12 and 14 respectively. The rear halfof the 'topconsisting-of flap 14 is placed back to backaga'instthecarton rear'wall'26 'with the rear halves of the; inner topflaps Band-15 contacting theirear wall26. The upper shelf is supported-.at the upperline'-22'by the rear wall=26 -to which his hingedly andfoldedly attached. The lateral edges of the upper shelf are locatedwithin the inner surfaces Vof'sides at a distance from the lower frontcorner approximately equal to one-half the top width dimension so thatthe.

Another modification 'of the carton 'is shown 'in Fig. 6 p

in which the front wall 11 is 'c'utjalong the transverse line 19 locatedrearerthe lower front corner. front portion 24 formsa' more shallowledgein front of the lower shelf with its edge 31 nearerthe carton bottom.The cut edge 34 of the attached wider front portion 25- is placed on thecarton bottom and inser'ted ir'lto the inner front corner to supportthe, 'lower'extremity of the shelves. The included angles: of the.stepsfwlien formed equally are then slightly greater than right angleswith the shelf treads nearly horizontal. The'shelf-ri'sers are onlyslightly inclined'and the overallconstruction' is as strong and durable'as the other display forms.

A considerable quantity of the contained. goods may be placed on thetiered shelves to effectively display thesame to promote sales. Therelative heightsof the'shelves are sufficiently separated to expose themajorportions-of two rows ofmerch'andise suchas bottled packages.T'he'dis played items are'readily available for inspection and sale.

The advertising message which is printed onthe external rearhalf of the'carton top-and the upper front 10 held in place by friction withinthe-innerverticalcorners formed by the sides 10 and rear'wall'26.

' The internal surface of the attached lower front portion j I 25 isplaced on the carton bottom resting on the inner bottom flaps 27 and 29.The upper front portion 11 then stands vertically perpendicular to themedial areas of the pointing rearwardly'in the center forwardportion ofthe bottom'flap 28 in thepreparation of the carton blank. The extremerearward'edge of the tab '32 is pulled up to engage the cut edge 34 ofthe front portion 25 to hold the tread of the lower shelf:in-locke'dyposition in the carton bottom. Thus, the upper and lowerextremities of the two shelves are held fixed as shown in -Figs. 3 and 4while their lateral edges are held in place against the'sides 110 byfriction. Pig, -4 clearlyshows the tab 32 engaging w the edge 34 of thefront portion 25' in the carton bottom with the shelves supported bytheir hinged attachment to the upper rear wall along the line '22. V

The tab 32 may be replaced; by afiller strip 33 as-shown in'Fig. 5 tohold the severed edge 34 of the front portion 25 in place on the c'artonbottoin. 'The'strip-33 may' be packed 'within the carton 'along 'wi'ththe' merchandise during shipment to be nsed'in the display arr-angement.It is positioned in the 'forward portion er the carton 'bottorn, from,rear and a pair of sidewalls, said top and hot tomito maintain theshelves in rightangle positions and to prevent the edged! from movingforward whenunder load.

Theditfere'ncein height of the fslielv'e s is determined by :therelative dnnensi-ons of the top and sides of the-carton. Thescore line'20 mustbe-placed in the carton front 11 wall is forwardly exposed onthe. vertical shelf risers. 2 By concentration of the printed matteronfthese earton'surfaces 'and on the lower side walls an effectiveadvertising and display stand is available to the seller 'at little orno extra cost above'that of the ordinary shipping carton. The carton indisplay form presents a very noticea'ble and attractive appearance toinduce sales.

'Various modifications may be resorted to 'within the spirit and scopeof the appended claim.

I claim: 7

A conventional i shipping carton which is convertible into adisplaycontainensaid-carton formed-of foldable paperboardmater'ial andcomprising'rectangular top, bottom walls comprising a pluralityof-joined overlapping fla'ps which are hinged'extensions ofsaid front,rear, and sidewallsjsaid front wall'having a single fold line extendingtransversely across an intermediate area thereof and -'anindicatedline'of'severance below and-parallel" to said fold'line onthelow'er'poiticih of'said front-wall, each 7 sidewall having a diagonalindicated-line of severance extending upwardly and rearwardly' from oneend ofsaid transverse severance line on the front wallap'proximately tothe, upper edge of the rear wall and additional 'in'dicat ed lines ofseverancealon'g the-front'and npper-edges of 'said sidewall above saiddiagonal line defining a triangular-shaped section adapted to be removedin converting'the carton to a displaycontainensaid top wall adapted toform a riserand tread of the upper shelf, the riser supported by hingedattachment to the upper'rear wall and the forward. portion of the treadby 'the' upper portion of the'front wall resting on: the containerbottom.

- References Cited 'in the file-of this-patent V N ED TAT PA T a 698,117Jordan Apr 22,j 1j9 q2 1,926,793 Richards 2 Sept. 12, 19.33 2,146,421Davidson 'Febf7; 1939 7 "--2,259,041 Lat-kin 0ct.]1'4, "1941 2,324,232Pantalone The lower

